Avalonna

Avalonna woke up the next morning on her bed in her old room. Her head was spinning and she couldn't quite recollect what had happened before she had passed out. She remembered the emotions and sounds of it all but not exactly the reasoning behind the commotion.

Something about a bird...

She smacked her forehead lightly as she remembered the falcon. The white marble statue that she had so innocently given to her brother as a birthday gift. The same statue that had somehow come alive at his touch and tried to tear the skin off her bones. Avalonna winced as she remembered the talons of the falcon shredding through her arm. However, when she looked down her arm was perfectly fine, not a scratch on her. This was not the birthday she had been expecting and needed her questions to be answered. The only one who seemed to know what was going on was Lydia. She got dressed and ran downstairs and immediately almost collided with her brother Connor.

"Excuse me, sorry Val. How are you feeling?" He asked, helping her down the stairs.
"I'm fine Connor, where is Lydia? How long were we asleep?"
"I'm not sure, I just woke up around the same time as you I assume. I know it's morning now though so Lydia most likely is in the house."
Avalonna nodded in agreement and the siblings went down the stairs and sure enough found Lydia in the living room reading through a rather large, black book.

"Oh thank goodness you two are awake!" She said, closing the book and embracing both of them. They nodded and hugged her back but then both siblings looked her in the eyes. Avalonna sat her down at the table and Connor sat across from her.
"Lydia, what on earth happened yesterday? I swear I did not know the statue would do that, the man at the market talked about magic but I just assumed it was a gimmic," Avalonna started,
"Surely there's no such thing as real magic is there? The Red King just did not want citizens believing in fantasies or making pacts with the devil, not that any of that was actually real, yes?" She asked, not knowing if she was truly asking Lydia or trying to convince herself of the fabrication, or lack thereof, of magic.
"I barely touched the bird before it tried to kill us, Lydia." Connor added, remaining more calm and in control than usual. Lydia took a deep breath and sighed slowly.

"I... I don't know where to begin. This was never supposed to happen, mind you."
She paused, collecting her thoughts before beginning again,
"First off and foremost I believe, magic is most definitely real. The Red King carried out his witch hunts to exterminate it all those years ago not because he didn't believe in it, but because he was afraid of it. He knew how powerful magic could truly be in the right hands. Your mother... Oh, your mother..." Lydia covered her eyes and took a moment to regain herself.

"Yes Lydia? What about our mother?" Connor asked.

"She was a magnificent person, so loving and caring. She was my best friend and as great of a human being as she was, she was an even greater witch. She was even a member of the 13th Council, the highest honor in the order of witches."
She said, tracing the star outline on the cover of the black book she gripped so tightly.

"Our mother? Our mother was a witch?" Avalonna asked in disbelief. Even Connor looked stunned. It could not be true, in all the stories she had ever heard, the witches were the villains, the evil ones. If Avalonna knew anything about her mother, she knew that she was not evil.

"Yes, and forgive me for what I tell you next. She and your father did not die of an illness, they were murdered by the Red Guard. Your mother was killed for practicing witchcraft, while your father's only 'crime' was being in love with your mother. She loved him equally, she even gave up her seat on the Council to be allowed to marry him and have children. I told you the story of their illness to keep you separate from the magical world, as were her wishes. " Lydia looked saddened and weak, which did not suit her usual personality.

"Of course we forgive you, Lydia," Connor spoke up first.
"This is just all so hard to take in at once," Avlonna added.

"Thank you, and I understand," Lydia nodded,
"Learning about the reality of magic is like... Being asleep forever and then getting to see the sunrise again. It sheds light on a whole new world and a whole new life." She said and placed the small falcon statue on the middle of the table. Connor backed away from it as a precaution.
"It's alright, Connor. He's still sleeping from Val's spell." She said.

"My spell? You mean to say I am... No, Connor and I... Are witches?" Avalonna said, wishing she had stayed asleep longer in the familiarity of her bed upstairs.

"Well technically Connor is a warlock, but yes. Both of you inherited some of your mother's magic. A witch is composed of two kinds of magic, the natural and the supernatural. Connor based on your dealings with the bear and awakening the falcon, I believe you inherited the natural side. Avalonna, you my dear have inherited the supernatural aspect, somewhat more powerful but also vastly more dangerous." Lydia stated, starting directly into Avalonna's eyes. She felt her heart beat begin to pick up and she got slightly light headed.

"You two are obviously untrained in magic. Hence, Connor's exhaustion after taming a large bear and Avalonna's exhaustion and accidental misfire of putting both the falcon and Connor to sleep." Lydia said, touching Avalonna's amulet and ring.
"These were your mother's, yes, but the stones are unlike any other. The gems in the middle of the star and ring make up Meredith's soul stone, a physical embodiment of a witch's power and spirit. She left it for you so she would always be apart of you."
Avalonna nodded slowly, too stunned and saddened to say much.
"Lydia..." She managed,
"If we are magical, won't that mean the Red King will..."

"I swear I will never let him hurt you Avalonna." Connor stated, looking her in the eye and looking much more like a man than the boy he did just a few days ago.

"Thank you, dear brother. I was also wondering... If we will be targeted and are a danger to ourselves if we are untrained, shouldn't we be trained? Surely you must also be a witch, Lydia." Avalonna said.

Lydia shook her head and replied,
"Sadly, no I am not a witch and can not train you in witchcraft, my loves. I can read Draconic, the language of magic, and was doing so to find a way to awake you if needed," she said, gesturing with the black book she was holding,
"You do bring up a good point, Val, that the stronger your magic becomes and the more it is used, the more likely the Red King will take notice. I can not train you, and the King murdered most of the magical beings in the kingdom. However, maybe... this is dangerous even to speak, but maybe if we were to journey to the wilderness in the far north, beyond Aster's territories, where the 13th Council may still exist in hiding. The high order of witches and warlocks may be able to train the two of you."

As Avalonna thought this over, she saw Connor nod and seem to almost smile at the idea. She knew he saw this as his chance to explore, to see the world as she had done for the last few years.
"Lydia, even if we do get trained, what then? And with the utmost respect to you, I don't believe you can travel as far with your intolerance of heat and sunlight." Avalonna said, both in trying to gain information and also possible provide enough evidence not to go on this journey, it seemed far too dangerous for her family.

"Well that would be up to you two. You may return and use your knowledge to aid and protect yourselves and live out your lives, or do as your mother and the Council intended, fight back. Get enough power and forces on your side to overthrow the Red King and Queen and end their blood reign. They lacked unity back then, and that lead to magic almost being wiped out. Don't allow history to repeat itself, and it may be possible magic can win this time around." Lydia said with the faintest hint of a hopeful smile.

"This is madness, Lydia. The journey to the northern wilderness will be difficult enough having to avoid Aster's capital, let alone what you have suggested we do after." Avalonna replied, putting her head in her hands and letting her hair fall down and hide her face.

"Val... I think it's a good idea," Connor stated, putting his hand on his sister's back,
"We have a chance to make a difference. I know how bad this city can be, and you must have seen how bad all the cities can be under the control of the Red King. We can help make it better." He finished, looking into Avalonna's eyes the same way he did as a child. The same way he did before he fell asleep the final time in his mother's arms. Avalonna smiled despite of herself, and let out a soft chuckle.

"You know, Connor? Only my little brother could make me smile at a time like this. I just do not want to lose anymore of my family... " Avalonna said, folding her hands and rubbing her arms, unsure of herself.
"however, If you think this is truly best for us, then I believe we should try it. I am starting to think it is what mother would have wanted." She said nodding and giving a little smile.

"There is one more thing..." Lydia interrupted meekly,
"You were right, Val, I can not travel with you. The distance is too far and I could not take the heat and sun, I am very sorry. I do not wish to leave you on your own for this trip, but I must stay here." She said, looking down.
Then Connor put an arm on her shoulder and said something that shocked both Lydia and Avalonna.

"Val, this journey is important, probably the most important thing we will ever do. However, we can't leave Lydia alone, especially if the Red King may already sense us. I will stay with her, you will go to the north and learn all you can and return. I will study with Lydia's books and learn from you and we can decide what to do from there." He said flatly, not giving either Avalonna or Lydia much of a chance to argue.

"Connor! I know I was traveling before on my own, but not like this! I never had magic before or the potential of being hunted by the Red Guard. I need my brother for this." Avalonna said, almost in tears.

"No, no you don't Val. I always knew you were special growing up, and your magic is already stronger than mine. You can do this without me, plus with mother's soul stone I'm sure the Council will aid you must easier than me." Connor embraced Avalonna tightly and Lydia nodded slowly.

"His plan... Makes sense. Though I can take care of myself, sending two powerful sources of untapped magic together may be unwise. Val, do you think you can make it to the north on your own?"

Avalonna studied her brothers expression and looked into Lydia's eyes. She breathed slowly and sighed. She began to think to herself and touched her mother's, no, her, necklace, and it began to glow slightly and resembled the magical stones at the marketplace. She smile to herself, imagining her mother's presence, and felt stronger and more secure than ever.

"Yes, Lydia. I believe I can."